National Republican., 1887-07-21
THE ATLANTA's DECKS.
Said to Have Been Torn by the Roooi
of Its Big Guns.


of Its Big Guns.
II seems that the ucw cruisers now built
and in the service of the government, as at
preeent equipped, might as we'll be scows,
so far as efficiency lie involved.
The gun carriages used will not withstand
the recoil resulting from discharge Of the
guns. A nlcely-burnished gun, mounted
on an elegantly painted carriage, which goes
all to pieces when the gun is once fired, is
not very formidable piece Of war machn.
cry. An enemy would simply await one
discharge, and then quietly sail up aud take
the dlsmantled ship and escort the officer.
and men away as prisoners Of war. A naval
battle, as at present prepared for, would
last on our part only so long as our ships
were being torn to pieces by our own In
| firm contrivances.
Secretary Whitney will be accorded
proper praise II he eecures good war vessels.
| On the other hand, he will get all the cen.
| sure Of the country IL he spends money for
worthless ships or equipment.
The New York San says OF q recent test
| OF gun carriages now used on the Atlanta
"Private letters from an officer and q ma
| chinst on board OF the new steel cruiser
| Atlanta to friends In tho Brooklyn navy
| yard say that during the target practice In
| Gardner's bay Monday, the S-inch bow and
| stern barbette pivot guns recoiled with such
| force as to tear lose the tracks on which
| they turn and also to rip up portion OF
| the heavy gun deck. These guns are the
heaviest guns aioat In the service, and those
| on the Atlanta are the first OF them to be
tested on board ship by our naval officers.
"The guns, carriages, and tracks were
| thoroughly tested at the Annsp ,lls testing
station before they were put on board ship,
| and during the earlier trials there one OF
- N,at. a.,
| track was bolted. These guns nre mounted
| on the practically open deck at the bow
| and stern OF the vessel A low, circular
parapet OF iron surrounded each gun to
protect the gunners from missiles from
| small arms, and there is also an iron hood
| over the gun for the same purpose. The re-
| coil Of the gun is checked by a hydraulic
| buffer on the carriage. and the carriage Is
| held in place by heavy clips which catch
under the edge OF the track. The rivets
which hold the track go through the 6iuch
| wooden deck, and are fastened to the half
/ inch steel lining beneath. THE account
| says that the rivets were drawn out the
clips broken, and the deck torn up.
"Just how serious the damage is could
| not be learned. No official report Of It has
| reached the navy yard. The officers OF the
Boston are anxious to know the exact facts
regarding the occurrence. The Boston Is
| sister ship OF the Atlanta, and the tracks
| for her s-inch guns are laid in the same way.
| Her guns are not yet on board. The letters
say that the damage was done by charge OF
| ninety pounds OF powder. The tracks will
| have to be much more secure to Withstand
the recoil produced by full charge Of 100
| pounds Of powder.
| "During the firing live sheep was used to
ascertain Just how near men may stand to
the muzzle of these great guns when they are
| fired without being killed by the concusslou.
| At one discharge, the eters say, the sheep
was blown clear over hatchway and killed.
| Officers on the Boston think this must have
| been done 10 ascertain whether an S-inch guu
| can be safely worked while a 6-inch gun
rext 1t is being fired almost across the s..
inch guns track"